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Events	Find more events!
....................... Open Mic Night, October 17 ....................... Family Day, Saturday, October 25 To RSVP, call 301-387-3135 or RSVP Online Stress Less - Strategies for Students October 21, at 7 PM, Room 311 ....................... 2009 Garrett County Job Fair March 26, 2009

Like watching sports? Check out a game!
Check the calendar of events to view the Lakers athletic schedule.

Open Mic Night
Friday Oct.17th, at 8:30 p.m.
In the Garrett Hall Lobby

Think you have talent?
Bring it on stage and show GC what you got.
The best performers will win a prize.

Stress Less - Strategies for Students by Joe Martin
October 21, 2008, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., Room 311

• Take control of your emotional and mental attitude
• Squeeze more "you time" into your schedule
• Stop other people from sabotaging your life

News Items

Poster 9/21/08 Garrett College Hosts Open House
Posted 9/19/08 Garrett starts Fall Semester with record-breaking enrollment
Posted 4/22/08 World View International Club (WVIC) holds their Annual International Dinner
Posted 3/30/08 The 2008 Job Fair was a resounding success!
Posted 3/29/08 LADY LAKERS FINISH SEVENTH IN NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Posted: 3/12/08 - Garrett College Lady Lakers Win 2008 NJCAA Region XX Championship
Posted: 3/3/08 - Tucker County High School visits Garrett College
Posted: 10/24/07 - World View International Club marches in Autumn Glory
Posted: 9/4/07 - New student orientation ushers in new semester
Posted: 9/3/07 - Laker Hall officially opens
Posted: 7-21-07 - Ten Garrett College Students to Attend Bucknell
Posted: 4-18-07 - Three Adventure Sports majors medal in national championship
Posted: 4-1-07 - Garrett County Job Fair a huge success
Posted: 2-8-07 - Estonian journalist to present documentary at Garrett Auditorium
Posted: 1-16-07 - Garrett College students are visiting India Intersession

| News Archive |

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GARRETT COLLEGE TO HOST OPEN HOUSE

MCHENRY, Md. – Garrett College will hold an open house for prospective students and their families on Saturday, October 4th.  The open house will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the McHenry campus and continue throughout the day. 
During the program, Garrett College representatives will provide information about applying to the college and offer information about the school’s financial aid process.  Garrett’s staff will be on hand to answer any questions students may have. 
The open house will provide students with the opportunity to learn about various programs of study offered.  In addition, students will have the chance to meet with current GC students to find out what life is really like at Garrett.  Students will also tour the campus and the residence halls. 
“Open house is the perfect opportunity to get your questions answered, meet students, faculty and staff, and discover firsthand what it is really like at Garrett College,” said Ed Robinson, Dean of Student Affairs at Garrett College.  “We look forward to having future Garrett College students on our campus.”
The college will provide lunch in the Laker Café located on the Garrett College campus. 
Pre-registration for open house is encouraged.  Further information and on-line registration are available at www.garrettcollege.edu or by calling the Garrett College Office of Admissions at 301-387-3044 or toll-free 866-554-2773.
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GARRETT COLLEGE BEGINS FALL 2008 YEAR WITH RECORD BREAKING ENROLLMENT
On September 3, 2008, Garrett College kicked off the fall semester with record breaking enrollment numbers.  Unofficial until the cutoff date later this month, the College’s enrollment number rose to 851 for fall 2008, a 9.5% increase from fall 2007.  

College officials contribute the increase to many factors.  The Commissioner’s Scholarship, which provides free tuition at Garrett to the county’s high school graduates, is a great incentive for local students to attend Garrett, and it has resulted in an enrollment rise over the last few years since the instatement of the scholarship. 

Another contributing factor for the increase, say college officials, is the experience that the College offers students with its athletic teams, residence halls, and student activities.  This “college experience” is very unique for a two-year college and quite comparable to that of a four-year college.

“In recent years, we have been attracting a large number of traditional-aged students from all parts of Maryland and out-of-state,” said Dean of Students Ed Robinson.  “This year, we enrolled more students from areas such as DC than ever before.  What students from far away are realizing is that we can offer them a traditional college experience, allow them to go away to college and stay in our residence halls, and have a slate of activities in which to participate.  What makes this attractive is that we offer this at the two-year level, where the admissions process is not as challenging as it may be at a four-year institution.” 

Although the College’s new residence hall was completed last fall, the College has seen a major increase in students living on-campus this fall. 
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On Saturday, April 19th, 2008, the Garrett College World View International Club (WVIC) held their Annual International Dinner.  This year, only 100 tickets were available, and all 100 tickets were sold.  Comments written by the participants indicates that the food was particularly delicious, that everyone enjoyed themselves, and that no one went home hungry.

Food from all over the world was served to the Dinner participants including Plov (a rice and lamb dish) from Turkmenistan and Potato Salad with Vegetables from Lithuania, both dished sponsored by Jearbryo’s Casual Dining; Piragi (bacon buns) from Latvia, Shopska Salad from Bulgaria, Vinegret Salad from Russia, all sponsored by Brenda’s Pizzeria; English Banana Caramel Cream Pie sponsored by Trader’s Coffee House; Arroz con Pollo (chicken in saffron-colored rice) sponsored by Cornish Manor; and Banana Cake from Papua New Guinea, sponsored by Fireside Deli and Wine.  Will O’ the Wisp sponsored several dishes, including South African Vetkoek (fried bread with a savory meat filling), Ethiopian Misir Wat (a spicy lentil dish served with Injera, the traditional flat bread), Flying Jacob and Oven Pan Cake from Sweden, Cassava Leaves and Chicken from Sierra Leone, and American Mississippi Mud Brownies.  Garrett Food Services, in conjunctions with Sysco Foods of Virginia, sponsored a number of different dishes including Canadian Poutine (fried potatoes with meat gravy and cheese), Thai Red Curry Vegetable Stir Fry, Italian Fra Diavlo over Cheese Polenta, and American Chicago-Style Hot Dogs.  Assorted desserts were provided by the American Association of University Women. 

The WVIC is grateful to the sponsorship of such wonderful, generous organizations and thanks all of those who purchased tickets and attended the dinner.

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The 2008 Job Fair was a resounding success as measured by the number of employers and job seekers in attendance.  There were 57 employers who spoke to 450 job seekers about positions of all kinds: part/full-time, summer, entry-level, and experienced-required jobs.  A scan of the evaluations from both groups indicate that most thought it was a successful event and that a good number of job seekers walked out of the Job Fairs with job offers in hand! 

Employers and job applicants mingle at the 2008 Garrett County Job Fair

Those who were unable to attend can still contact the Job Fair employers by going to the Job Fair website (www.garrettcollege.edu/events/jobfair) to access a list of the participating employers. 

Many thanks to the Job Fair Sponsors -- Garrett College, the Garrett County One-Stop Career Center, the Garrett Chamber of Commerce, and RadioFX --, to the community members who helped advertise the Job Fair, to the employers who participated in the Job Fairs, and the record-breaking number of job seekers who attended!  All were instrumental in making this year’s Job Fair such a success!

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LADY LAKERS FINISH SEVENTH IN NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Team Wins Two of Their Three Tournament Games

Watch a slideshow of the Lady Lakers trip to Nationals.

After earning a chance to play for the NJCAA National Championship, the GC women’s basketball team finished seventh place in the national tournament.  The 2008 Lady Lakers set a record for the highest national ranking in the College’s history.
            Although the team missed their chance for the national title after losing to the Community College of Rhode Island in their first game, the team is happy with their accomplishment.  “Even though we didn’t win nationals, I wouldn’t have finished it any other way,” said sophomore center Mindy Sharp.  “Before we went out for the final game, I told the team, ‘This is our last game together, and I expect us to go out with a bang.’ I believe we went out with a bang.” 
            Sharp, who graduates from Garrett in May, made All-tournament at nationals.  “I’m thrilled to have gotten All-tournament,” said Sharp.  “It made my day.”  Sharp is still unsure of her post-Garrett plans, although she intends to continue her basketball career.  “Whatever four-year college I end up attending will be good,” Sharp said.  “It’ll be sad to leave, but I’m excited to move on.”
            In addition to doing so well in the tournament, The Lady Lakers were awarded the Betty J Graber Sportsmanship Award, which is given to the team that demonstrates the highest level of sportsmanship on and off the court during the tournament.
            “I was very impressed by the way our team represented the district and Garrett College,” said Ann Wellham, Garrett College Athletic Director.  “The fact that they were able to secure seventh place in the nation in addition to being awarded the Betty J Graber Sportsmanship Award says a lot about the team’s competitive ability and character.” 
            This is the second time the Lady Lakers have been honored with this award.  The team was also given the sportsmanship award when they went to the nationals in 2004. 
            The Lady Lakers went to nationals ready to play.  “We were so excited to be in Illinois to play for the national championship,” said sophomore forward Larisha McAdory.  In a heartbreaking overtime lost to the Community College of Rhode Island, the team was defeated by one point in their first tournament game with a final score of 67-66. 
            With a tough first game lost, the team knew they had to press on and turn things around for their final two games of the tournament.  “It was hard to lose the first game, but you can either give up or keep going,” said McAdory.  “I knew we were going to win the last two games because we had the heart to do so.” 
            Sophomore point guard Tegra “Kitty” Hillman agreed.  “After we lost the first game, I just knew we were going to win the last two games,” said Hillman.  “We couldn’t lose any more games.  This is my last year.  We had to win.” 
            The team’s determination paid off in their final two tournament games.  With overwhelming wins against Mesa Community College (70-56) and MCC – Penn Valley (71-59), the Lady Lakers took away seventh place.  “Winning the last two games was a great feeling,” said sophomore point guard Requita Davis.  “I’m really happy we won the last game.”
            Sharp expressed her feelings in a similar way.  “I’m so upset that we lost the first game,” said Sharp.  “In the end, finishing strong settles well with me.” 
            Even though the team spent most of their time practicing and playing basketball during their time at the national tournament, they did have some free time to enjoy their trip.  “It felt so good to be in Illinois,” said McAdory.  “We were treated like stars.  We got dressed up and went to a banquet for the players.  We received gift bags and free t-shirts.  We worked really hard to get there, and I believe we deserved to be there.” 
            Sharp enjoyed the stay in Illinois as well.  “The trip was nice,” Sharp said.  “We were able to go shopping as well as swim in the hotel pool.”
            The national tournament represented McAdory, Sharp, Hillman, and Davis’ last game as Lady Lakers.  As Garrett’s four sophomores, they will graduate in May and move on to four-year colleges.  As Davis said, “I’m truly going to miss some people.  It is going to hurt to leave the people you really care about. Some are my best friends. However, I am excited about my future.”  This seems to be the sentiment of each of the four soon to be graduates.  However, the four sophomores leave Garrett with a high national ranking in which to boast. 
            For more information, persons may contact Ann Wellham, Garrett College Athletic Director, at 301-387-3059 or ann.wellham@garrettcollege.edu.

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Garrett College Lady Lakers Win 2008 NJCAA Region XX Championship
Lady Lakers Gear Up For the NJCAA Division II National Championship

            MCHENRY, Md. – The Garrett College women’s basketball team earned a chance to play for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Championship after defeating Cecil College in the NJCAA Region XX Championship.  The Lady Lakers will travel to Illinois Central College for the national tournament March 19 – 22. 
            “All the team’s hard work is paying off,” center Mindy Sharp said.  “After we beat Cecil for the Region XX Championship, I’ve never screamed so much in my life.  I was so excited.  I can’t wait to go to Illinois.” 
            The Lady Lakers take their 23-4 record to the national tournament for only the second time in the school’s history.  The team jumped several hurdles to make it to the national championship.  They beat Division II 13th ranked Allegany College after losing to them during the regular season and during the Maryland Junior College tournament championship.  Then the team defeated 25th ranked Hagerstown during the Maryland Junior College tournament.
            Even though they lost to Cecil during the regular season, the Lady Lakers battled against them in the final game of the Region XX Tournament.  “When we came out of the locker room, I’ve never seen us more together as a team.  Everybody wanted it,” Sharp said.  And they got it.  The Lady Lakers came away with a victory against the 23rd ranked Seahawks, winning them the Region XX Championship. 
            “We’ve come a long way,” said Lady Lakers Coach Thea Garland.  “We were immature in the beginning.  We continued to get better over the course of the year, not only athletically, but also mentally.  I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.”            
            Sophomore Tegra “Kitty” Hillman made the All-Maryland Junior College Tournament team.  She was also named Region XX Tournament MVP.  “I was shocked and crying when they announced my name.  But they were tears of joy,” Hillman, who plays both point guard and shooting guard for the team, said.  “I’m so excited and glad we made it this year because it’s my last year at GC.”  
            Sophomore Sharp also made the All-Region XX Tournament team.  Freshman Tanika “Tiki” Jeffers made the All-Maryland Junior College Tournament team.
            The Lady Lakers will head to East Peoria, Illinois for the NJCAA National Tournament during the College’s spring break week.  The seeding has yet to be set for the tournament.  “We are proud of the accomplishments that our women’s basketball team has made this season,” Garrett College Athletic Director Ann Wellham said.  “Garrett is one of only 12 community colleges in the United States that have qualified for the Division II Women’s Basketball NJCAA National Tournament.  These young ladies have worked very hard to get to where they are today and I am certain that they will represent us well.” 
            Coach Garland attributed the Lady Lakers’ success to their hard work, dedication and the support of the College.  She was appreciative of the support of the College president, Dr. Paul Dauphinais, who was a regular at Lakers basketball games this season.  “It was great to see the president at our games,” Coach Garland said.  “I believe his being there was one of the driving forces behind the success we’ve had this year.  The team seeing him at the games lending his support was uplifting.”         
            For his part, Dr. Dauphinais is proud of the Lady Lakers. “Getting to a national tournament in a sport such as basketball is a great accomplishment for the team, the coaches and the school,” Dr. Dauphinais said.  “I am happy for all of the players and wish the team the very best in Illinois.” 
            The College will hold a send-off party for the Lady Lakers on Thursday, March 13 at 12:00 p.m. in the College café to show its pride, support and best wishes for the team. 

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Fifty-nine ninth graders from Tucker County High School (WV) visited Garrett College on March 3, 2008.  The students are participants in Tucker County GEAR-UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), a program of the U.S. Department of Education.  In addition to a tour of the college campus, the students enjoyed lunch in Laker Café and played Garrett College Bingo to learn about GC programs and services.

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World View International Club marches in Autumn Glory

In this year’s Autumn Glory Parade on Saturday, October 13, Garrett College was represented by an energetic, wonderful group of student members of the World View International Club. Flags from each of the 19 countries represented at Garrett College were carried through the streets of Oakland, MD, as parade watchers listened to music from all over the world. Students reported that they had an amazing time, and those watching said they could tell that they did! See more photos...

New student orientation was held September 4, 2007.

Hungry students chow down at the NSO picnic

Students who attended the New Student enjoyed: Live entertainment Tours of the campus and help locating their classrooms A tour of the brand new Learning Resource Center Meet their academic advisor Get student ID card A picnic and meet new friends And a whole lot more!

Laker Hall ribbon cutting ceremony A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday, August 31 at 12:30 PM in front of Laker Hall to officially open the newest building on the expanding Garrett campus. Students were able to move in to the brand new apartment facility after the ceremony.
Garrett College employees, students, Board of Trustee members, County Commissioners, and community members gather in front of Laker Hall to watch the ribbon cutting ceremonies.
Ms. Vianne Bell, Garrett College Board of Trustees chairperson, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new student apartment complex, Laker Hall.

Ten Garrett College Students to Attend Bucknell
Ten Garrett College students will be going to Bucknell University.  Four as full-time students for the fall 2007 semester and six to a special six-week summer 2007 program.

Three students were selected by Bucknell this year for the two year scholarship and one, who was selected last year, will be taking classes this fall. Attending the college this fall are Dan Tichnell of Oakland, Zumra Balihodzic of Sarajevo, Bosnia, Krista Joosep of Paide, Estonia and  Lasma Kanele of Riga, Latvia.

Dan Tichnell, who was chosen last year, has been awarded a three year scholarship to study engineering.

Krista Joosep will be majoring in Liberal Arts and, International Relations. Her future is not clear yet, she said. She is considering working in government, education, or possibly a non-government international aid organization.

“This is a dream,” she said of her scholarship to Bucknell. With 3400 undergraduates, it is the largest private liberal arts school in the nation. “It is an amazing opportunity for us to study there. Bucknell is 25th in the nation, with a beautiful campus and great faculty.”

“I am so excited. This is such an opportunity,” she said. “I worked hard for this, writing all those essays, completing forms, keeping classes up.”

She said questions included “what has been important in your life and what has shaped you into what you are today.” The students had to give a 10 minute presentation to the Garrett College Board of Trustees and to Mark Davis of Bucknell University and had a 10 minute interview.

“It is important to go as far as can in education,” Krista said. “It is important to get a good job.”

Zumra Balihodzic; is majoring in political science, with a minor in languages.

“This is a very prestigious university. I really loved the campus. Kristina (Kask) and Josef Kariuki (two Garrett College students receiving the Bucknell-Scholar award in 2006-2007) had good experiences. So I decided to try.”

Zumra said Bucknell will help her fulfill her dreams. She plans to go back to Bosnia after grad school.

“Bucknell has hundreds of organizations, sports, and much more to offer,” Zumra said. “You can be involved in so many things. It is a great thing that Garrett has this opportunity and has a relationship with a big school like Bucknell.”

“It was a lot of hard work but with a great reward at the end,” she said. “If you work hard, with intense study, you can get there. The Bucknell application process was very broad,” she said. “It took a lot of energy but was totally worth it. They ask so much.”

Lasma will be participating in and individual interdependent major. She will meet with her advisors to determine the different classes she needs.

“We will develop my academic program as we go along,” she said. She wants an emphasis on journalism and mass media. “I have a dream, just a camera and travel to get stories, sell them to newspapers or magazines or show photos in New York.”
 
She agreed with Zumra that it took a lot of time to apply and she needed guidance, help and support.

“So many people helped, plus we helped each other,” she said. Lasma encourages others students to try for future programs at Bucknell. “Try it, if don’t try you’ll never get it.”

The school is only slightly more than three hours away from Garrett College, which is like their second home, the three International students agree. They also agreed that attending Garrett College was a good start, citing the great faculty and support they received as important in helping them achieve what they have.

The students receive approximately $38,000 each year toward tuition to attend Bucknell. With books, fees and boarding included the cost would be roughly $47,000. The difference is taken care of in a financial aid package provided by Bucknell.

Another six students also are going to Bucknell to study for six weeks this summer. They will take six hours of transfer credit with Bucknell. They can select two of three courses being offered.  The students will receive full tuition, full room and board, and have all expenses covered for the summer, including related field trips and activities. They also will receive a monetary stipend each week to help with personal expenses.

“The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation/Bucknell University grant enables the students to concentrate on the learning experience without having to be concerned about any form of expense.” said Phil Rivera,  Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Garrett College   

Attending the summer program are Christy Stahl of Accident, Unathi Mahlati of South Africa, Tihitima Gizaw of Ethiopia, Amber Giove of Hagerstown,  Breanna Eckley of Grantsville and Gabriel Jamar Leggett of Beckly, West Virginia.

The students heard about the summer program differently: from an advisor, a professor, financial aid officer and a poster. All want to continue their education after Garrett College. This opportunity puts the students one step ahead in meeting their goals,

Unathi Mahlati heard about the prestigious school and expected to work hard to be accepted. She is interested in the pre-med classes and health sciences. She wants to be a psychologist and would like to finish education here in the United States.

“This program will motivate us to work harder,” she said. “We will know what kinds of things they expect.”

Kristy is interested in a future in the medical field. She feels that from this summer experience she will gain a different perspective. Also, she can meet her current college requirements with some of these classes.

“It will help me grow,” she said. “This is different from Garrett College. It is a larger campus with more people and different options. This will help when choosing an exact major.”

Tihitima said this was one of the best schools in the US and welcomes the experience of seeing what it is like at a university. She plans to transfer to a 4 year college after graduation. She is interested in business management and hopes to learn how to deal with different kinds of personalities.

Amber hopes by attending Garrett College she will be able to transfer to Bucknell. She knew about the two year program when she came to Garrett. The college gives it's students lots of support. She is interested in physical therapy.

“I hope to grow through different experiences and receive additional education,” she said. The credits will transfer. She hopes to eventually earn a doctorate, which would allow her to practice in different states.

All the students agreed that the experience will help with meeting the requirements for their majors. It will be a good opportunity to meet new people and share their culture with others.

They will have four classes a week. Every Wednesday is a free day, but usually something is planned.

“These students, selected as recipients of the six-week summer scholarships, have just finished their first year at Garrett College. They can apply for the two year scholarship next year.”

Only three students will be selected next year. They may come from this group of six if they apply or from among other students who can apply for the two year scholarships next year. Those chosen do not have to be from this group, he said.

All these students are high achievers with 3.5 or better Grade Point Averages. The scholarships have very strict criteria and Bucknell chooses the scholarship recipients. Only five institutions are involved in this program. Each will send students for two years. Each will send six students for the summer program.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Garrett College students, said Rivera, who would like to have students and families know more about the potential Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship to Bucknell University. The college will be making efforts to publicize the scholarship program throughout the community and the area high schools each academic year.

Garrett College Competitors Bring Home Collegiate National Championship
Three Garrett College Adventure Sports students recently competed in the 2007 Collegiate Nationals competition, hosted by the city of Reno, Nevada. The Collegiate Nationals is the premier event for intercollegiate adventure sports competitions in the United States.

Matt Fithian, right, is awarded a bronze medal for his duke-em-out Boater-Cross effort.

Members of the Garrett College Adventuresports Institute Competition Team Ian Hall and Dave Sisolak were awarded First Place National Champions in the adventure racing competition and Matt Fithian earned a third place bronze medal in whitewater kayak boater-cross. Garrett College was among 23 colleges and universities from across the United States, including such notable schools as George Washington, Purdue, Texas A & M, Virginia Tech, and San Diego State, that traveled to Reno for the competitions, which occurred Saturday and Sunday, April 14th and 15th. The event will be televised by CBS’s CSTV (College Sports Television) at 10 PM EST, May 13th. The first place national championship award represents the first time that such an honor has been earned by a Garrett College team.

Dave Sisolak, left, and Ian Hall, right, are being interviewed by a CSTV producer. The event will air on CBS’s CSTV (College Sports Television) at 10 PM EST, May 13th.

The Collegiate Nationals is the most important and top event in the collegiate world that includes certain adventure-type competitions currently not included in the family of NCAA/NJCAA recognized sports, including the two competitions in which Garrett made entries: Adventure Racing (running, mountain biking, and river paddling/swimming segments) and Whitewater Kayak Boater-Cross (a mass start of 4 kayakers attempting to navigate 200 yards of rapids and, if necessary, come in physical contact with their competitors in order to reach the finish line first – the top two racers in each heat advance to the next heat until a Final Four is determined).

For more information about the Adventuresports Institute’s Competition Team, call the college at 301.387.3330.

Garrett County Job Fair a huge success.
More than 300 job seekers took advantage of last week’s Garrett College Job Fair. Fifty-two businesses had booths.

“It was the largest Garrett County Job Fair both in terms of employers and job seekers,” says Judy A. Carbone, Coordinator of Career & Transfer Services at Garrett College and Job air Planning Committee Chair.  “We were very pleased to hear of the number of successful connections made that day and thank all the employers that participated.  And thank you to the job seekers, too, especially for coming out on such a beautiful day.”

Some employers said they were able to fill all their positions by the end of the evening. The Thursday afternoon hours offered students, unemployed and those looking at a possible job change the opportunity to see what might be available in the future.  The Job Fair was sponsored by Garrett College, Garrett County One Stop Job Center, Garrett Chamber, and Radio FX.

Visit the Job Fair Website

Posted: 2-8-07 - Estonian journalist to present documentary at Garrett Auditorium
On Friday, February 16, Garrett Countians will have a unique opportunity to learn more about a part of the world that doesn’t often enter into daily conversations, Estonia.   Journalist and documentary maker Imbi Paju will present her movie Memories Denied at 6:30 P.M. in the auditorium of Garrett College.  There is no cost to see this movie.

One of the Baltic countries, Estonia has a long history of occupation, including until 15 years ago, Soviet occupation.  For many years, the terrifying experience of Estonians in Stalin’s labor camps was a taboo subject. It was not until 1991, when Estonia gained its independence, that this dark chapter of the country’s history began to emerge.

In Memories Denied Paju takes a personal approach in telling the story of how her own mother, born in 1930, was arrested together with her twin sister in 1948 and interned until 1954 in Soviet camps. The film also recalls the many forms of oppression meted out to Estonians from 1939 onwards, by both the Soviets and the Germans. .

In the documentary, the director depicts her mother’s past and, at the same time, that of all Estonia. “It is still hard to talk about the unresolved past which crosses generation lines,” says Paju. “But this journey must be completed in order for the community to heal from the wounds of history.”

 Paju’s presentation is sponsored by Garrett College, the World View International Club of Garrett College, the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC), and the Maryland/Estonia Exchange Council (MEEC).  The movie is in Estonian with English sub-titles and has a running time of 60 minutes.  Immediately after the movie, Imbi will speak with audience members at a reception, during which light refreshments will be served.

Paju is a citizen of Estonia, currently residing in Helsinki, Finland.  She has studied at the Estonian Humanitarian Institute, the Helsinki University, Department of Political Studies, and the Helsinki Theatre Academy and is involved in numerous media projects, including her roles as “Sõnumileht” correspondent in Helsinki, “Eesti Päevaleht” correspondent in Helsinki, Estonian Radio correspondent in Finland, and a daily columnist.  Her other documentary projects have included a documentary about a 13-year-old girl who was sexually abused by her stepfather (ETV/ Facts from Real Life); a semi-documentary entitled “People of Raja Village” (about the Russian Old-Believers living by Lake Peipsi); and “Helsinki – European Capital of Culture”.  In 2006, she completed her book entitled Memories Denied, based on her documentary film of the same name.

Garrett College is pleased to be serving as a venue for the showing of this documentary. The college currently enjoys the presence of two students from Estonia: Krista Joosep, a Liberal Arts major who will graduate in May, and Maksim Pavlov, an Adventure Sports Management who is in his first semester at the College.

For more information, please contact Judy A. Carbone, the Garrett College Coordinator of Global Education and Advisor to the World View International Club, at 301-387-3046 or jcarbone@garrettcollege.edu.

Posted: 1-16-07 - Garrett College students are visiting India Intersession
Several Garrett College students are visiting India during the 2007 Intersession as part of a new academic study abroad program.

Students participating in the academic study abroad program are Adrienne Leigh Glotfelty, McHenry; Virgus Wells, Friendsville; Patrice Wells, Accident; Brianna Eckley, PA; Joshua Morton Locust Grove, Virginia; Garrett Werner, Mt. Avery; and Chas Fitzwater, Oakland. The Garrett College faculty leader of the study abroad program while in India is Dr. Lonnie Brewster, Professor of English.

The study abroad in India is offering up to six hours of Garrett College credit for the students participating in the program. The two academic courses offered as part of the program are Anthropology and Indian Literature. The Garrett College instructors are Dr. Lonnie Brewster and Professor of Sociology, Liz Bizer.

Student pre-study and orientation class meetings were convened on the Garrett College campus prior to departing for India. Post-trip class meetings are also part of the academic schedule. An expansive academic program planned for the Garrett College students while in India includes lectures by Indian professors, fine arts performances, yoga lessons and cultural interactive activities with various Indian population groups.

A wide range of significant cultural and historical land travel activities are also planned. These activities include visiting the Guruvayoor Temple, an elephant village, Chamundy Hills Temple, Padmanabha Swamy Temple (built in the 12 th century), Mysore Palace, Vrindhavan Gardens, Kovalam Beach, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kanyakumari Temple, Cape Comorine (where the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal can be seen together), Cochin Harbor, boating in the back waters and visiting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in the sea by boat. During the course of their cultural and historical land travel activities the Garrett College study group will be visiting the cities of Kannur, Cochin, Bangalore and Mysore in southern India.

The Garrett College academic study group to India will return to the United States on January 17, 2007.

Phil Rivera, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, is hoping that the study abroad to India will be the first of many programs to be developed and led by Garrett College faculty in the interest of students, citizens and organizations of the Garrett County community. Programs to Africa, Latin America and Asia are being explored. Garrett College is intent on maintaining the legacy of contributing to international understanding and cultural awareness – the development of study abroad programs is just one part of this continuing effort.

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